At what age an children legally be left home alone?

[janetsflower]

IS there a law about what ge children have to be before they can be left at home alone or does it vary depending on length of time they to be left, whether they home alone a night etc? I am not planning on going on holiday for a fortnight or anything like that just wondered if i have to continue to drag my 12 year old round the supermarket during school hols or if its legal to leave him at home on his own for an hour. Obviously I feel he is sensible and safe enough to be left for short periods

[meltoadhall]

as far as i know there is no legal age limit but if anything happens then the law would be involved - i often leave my 10 and 12 year olds on thier on for an hour or so and have my phone on if they need me. my girls are sensible and i have no qualms on them being on their own for short periods

[grumpii]

just hide the matches / lighters x

[Fairie]

i too leave my 12 year old and recently my 11 year old at home while i go to asda etc, they hate coming plus it takes longer and you spend more!! lol I think it is reasonable t let him stay home, actually if you look into it, childminders and placentres stop taking hildren once they leave primary school, so surely this is saying they are old enough to look after themselves for certain periods during the day, however i dont leave them home in the evening, and not sure if i would until about 14

[janetsflower]

thanks for the answers, i will leave him while i go shopping then but i wouldn't leave him at night just yet

[catcuddler]

the law used to be a child of 14 or above can be left home alone but this may have changed

[jules77]

If there is a 'law' which I thought there was, and it was 14 years old, will the McCann's be charged for leaving poor Madeleine and her brother and sister alone?